The Allen County Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), in conjunction with the Lima City Parks & Recreation Division, is sponsoring a Family Fun Day in Faurot Park on Aug. 11, from 10 a.m. - noon, in recognition of World Breastfeeding Week and Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
The event is open to the public; families are invited to come and enjoy snacks, fun, games and many activities in celebration of healthy families and children.
The event will be held at Faurot Park shelter house #2 off of Woodlawn Ave. "We have many reasons to celebrate breastfeeding awareness month," says Barb Deepe, Allen County WIC Director. "We know breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed human babies. Most women have heard that breastfeeding gives babies a healthy start in life but it also helps reduce risks of certain medical problems in mothers.
Allen County WIC has a "Circle of Friends" flyer which lists breastfeeding resources in Allen County. Anyone interested in this flyer can call the Allen County WIC office at 419-224-8200 to request a copy.
WIC Program - Background Information
WIC helps income eligible pregnant and breastfeeding women, women who recently had a baby, infants and children up to five years of age who are at health risk due to inadequate nutrition. Eligibility is determined at a local WIC clinic.
Family income must be within 185 percent of the federal poverty level. A WIC health professional assesses risk by checking factors such as blood iron level, height, weight, health history and dietary intake. WIC provides nutrition education, breastfeeding education and support, and supplemental foods rich in calcium, iron and protein that moms and children under the age of 5 years need to improve their health status.
These foods include milk, eggs, whole grains, beans, peanut butter, fruits + vegetables, 100 percent fruit juices and low-sugar, iron-fortified cereals. In addition, WIC provides referral to prenatal and pediatric health care and other maternal and child health and human
services programs.
For more information, contact Allen County WIC at (419)224-8200 or 1-800-755-GROW.
